CHARLESTON -- Steptoe & Johnson has been honored for its longstanding support of the Minority Clerkship Program, jointly sponsored by the West Virginia State Bar and the West Virginia University College of Law.

The objective of the program, which places minority students from the WVU College of Law in clerkship positions with West Virginia law firms, is to increase the number of minority attorneys in private practice throughout the State. Steptoe & Johnson began participating in the Minority Clerkship Program at its inception in 1991.

"Steptoe & Johnson is committed to promoting diversity in the work place, and we have been pleased to support the efforts by the College of Law and the State Bar to do so through the Minority Clerkship Program for 15 years," said Kara Cunningham, chair of the firm's Recruiting Committee. "The firm is honored to be recognized for its contribution, and looks forward to its continued participation in the program."

The firm received the award on April 14 at a dinner honoring J. R. Clifford, the first African-American lawyer admitted to practice in West Virginia. Steptoe & Johnson also supports the scholarship program recently created in Clifford's name. Monte' Williams, an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson and President of the WVU Black Law Alumni Association, presented the award.